DON'T BEG ME NOW, MR. ARMSTRONG
Five years ago, on her birthday, Joan Lancaster was served with divorce papers by the one man whom she had loved with every fiber of her being. The same man who had sworn to protect her, cherish her, and never betray her, Dean Armstrong. He cast her aside without remorse, replacing her with his secretary and stripping her of everything but her dignity.
Broken, wounded, and abandoned, Joan disappeared into the night with secrets only she knew, only to return five years later as a different woman. No longer the trembling, forgiving wife Dean once knew, Joan stepped back into his world as the untouchable Ice Queen, a woman whose rise to power had struck fear in the hearts of the Chicago businessmen.
But she wasn't just back, she was back for revenge. And she wasn't going to stop until she stripped her ex-husband of everything that made his name. Once a powerful man, Dean found himself begging the woman he once discarded. The woman who now had the strings to his life and could do with him as she pleased.
In a world where love had once broken her, Joan would prove one thing: some women don’t come back to be loved. They come back to be feared.
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Chapter: 68I hated that I had to remind them of that to get their respect. It felt like I'd been coercing them into doing my bidding, and I was sure that if Victor was here, he'd have advised me to try another way. But it was also necessary. Everyone needed a little reminder once in a while. “If I don't at least get a right to speak concerning a decision that'd limit my position in the company, then what's the point of owning so many shares?” I asked no one in particular. And no one answered. “Let the decision be made again. This time, we cast votes now that everyone is present,” I went on. “And whatever the results are, I'll respect it.”It took a moment before the re room erupted in murmurs once again. “Ms. Lancaster. You need to understand that we've already settled this,” Donald spoke first, and the others followed his beat. It was almost like he had more control than Dean. “This is unnecessary—”“Reopening the vote sets a bad precedent. Obviously—”“It’s a waste of time—”Their voice
Last Updated: 2026-04-05
Chapter: 067By the time I got there, they had already started.Of course, they had.The receptionist barely had time to look up before I walked past her, my heels cutting clean, deliberate sounds against the polished floor. The closer I got to the boardroom, the clearer the muffled voices became—low, tense, controlled. A room full of men and a few women, convincing themselves they were doing something smart. I wondered when they were going to learn they'd just been wasting their time. I didn’t slow down.I pushed the door open without knocking and stepped in.One by one, voices cut off mid-sentence, heads turning, expressions shifting from focus, to confusion, to surprise.Good.Dean was the last to look at me.He stood at the head of the table, one hand braced against the surface, the other holding a file he no longer seemed interested in.For a brief second—just one—his composure slipped, but then it was gone.I didn’t acknowledge it. I didn’t acknowledge any of them.Shoulders squared and c
Last Updated: 2026-04-04
Chapter: 066~~Joan~~The email came in at 7:12 a.m.I saw it the moment my phone lit up on the bedside table, the subject line bold and insistent.It was a reminder about a meeting that was supposed to be held at Dean's company in six hours. I stared at it for a few seconds longer than necessary, then I flipped the phone over.I ignored it.For once, I didn’t feel the urgency. Didn’t feel the pull to jump into work mode, to calculate, to prepare, to dominate whatever room I was walking into.Because when I stepped out into the hallway minutes later, I was reminded exactly why.Victor was already awake.He sat in the living room, dressed, composed—almost like nothing had changed. But that illusion shattered the moment I looked closer.His skin looked paler, his movements slower.Even the way he held his teacup carried a faint tremor he wasn’t bothering to hide anymore.My chest tightened.“Good morning,” I said, softer than usual.He glanced up at me, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re u
Last Updated: 2026-04-03
Chapter: 065~~Joan~~The house was quiet. Not the kind of quiet that felt empty or lonely, but the kind that pressed against your skin, heavy and intimate. Kai was finally asleep, sprawled across his little bed with blankets tangled around him. Even in rest, he looked like a tiny storm contained within sheets, a storm that had demanded every ounce of our energy tonight.Victor was resting in his chair, reclined, his breathing slow and steady. The soft hum of the heater and the faint ticking of the clock were the only sounds accompanying the occasional creak of the old floorboards. I leaned against the doorway, my bag of papers forgotten on the table, and just watched. The evening had gone better than expected—Kai had laughed, Brandon had been patient, and even Victor… though still stern, still distant… hadn’t been impossible.Brandon was in the kitchen, loading dishes into the sink with calm precision, moving in a rhythm that seemed effortless. I wanted to say something, anything, but the words s
Last Updated: 2026-03-31
Chapter: 064The drive back was quiet, but it wasn’t peaceful. Victor sat in the passenger seat, stiff and immovable, his hands folded over his stomach like he was bracing for impact. Joan was beside me, pale and tense, her fingers drumming lightly on her knee. I kept my eyes on the road, letting them both stew in their thoughts for a while.“You realize this isn’t optional, right?” I said finally, breaking the silence.Victor’s eyes flicked to me, sharp, appraising. “I don’t need anyone watching me, Brandon. I’ve survived longer than most.”“I don’t care how long you’ve survived,” I replied evenly. “You’re not leaving that hospital without someone who actually knows what to do if something goes wrong. You fainted today. That’s not some casual hiccup.”He let out a low hum, half-grumble, half-laugh, but I didn’t miss the tension in his jaw. He was used to controlling everything, everyone, but he wasn’t used to anyone calling his bluff.Joan finally spoke, voice soft but firm. “Victor… please. Just
Last Updated: 2026-03-31
Chapter: 063BrandonThe second we got on the road, I realized Joan was quiet. Too quiet. Her hands gripped the steering wheel like her life depended on it, though I knew she wasn’t driving. Her chest rose and fell in shallow, rapid bursts, her gaze fixed on nothing at all.“Joan?” I asked softly, reaching over to place my hand lightly on hers.Her fingers twitched beneath mine. “I… I just—” Her voice cracked. She swallowed, sharp and jagged, and I knew immediately what was happening. Panic. Pure, unfiltered panic, blooming inside her like a storm cloud she couldn’t control.“Okay,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, calm, the anchor she clearly needed. “We’re going to pull over for a second. Breathe with me.”She barely nodded, and I guided the car toward the roadside. The tires crunched over gravel, and I parked. Engine off, silence pressing in around us except for the faint hum of passing cars.“Look at me,” I said gently. She flinched at the sound of my voice but obeyed. “Breathe with me.
Last Updated: 2026-03-31
I Fell In Love With A Ghost
"This realm is your only chance of coming back to life in the mortal world, and if you attract those consequences, take note that you will die.”
“Death?” I ask, mostly to myself. And to the voice, “What do you mean by 'I’m on my way to death'?”
~~~
Nova was having a bad day, and all she wanted was for the day to end already. But the universe seemed to have misunderstood her wish, because not only did her day not end, but she met with an accident that left her in a coma.
As if that wasn't bad enough, she became trapped in a dimension between life and death, where she had to face a series of trials that would determine if she wakes... or fades from existence.
Enter Zephyr, the spirit assigned to guide her to the light – her recovery.
The spirit who never tried to disguise his want for her failure.
The spirit she should've never fallen in love with.
But in a world where survival is determined by the number of challenges a soul can conquer, the heart still found its way around love.
With her complicated feelings in an already complicated world, Nova must decide what she's truly fighting for – her life, or the one being who's capable of ending it.
***
In a short time, the remaining one hundred and twelve souls are pushed out. When we’re complete and standing, a voice – different from on the bus – greets us.
“Welcome, Souls, to the survival games.”
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Chapter: 012: Nightmare "Get what done with?" He sighs tiredly. "Your test... Your death. Whatever you want it to be. Your choice." He brushes by me, and I instinctively step away. But not without noticing his scent. The perfume Chris wore all the time. It makes me yearn for him even more. "You coming?" he calls, and I realize he's already by the mirror, a hand stretched toward me. I hesitate, watching his hand warily. "Jesus, Nov," he hisses. "Stop acting like I'm gonna kill you."It's not my fault I'm hesitant. He is going to kill me if he gets the chance. He's literally designed to do so. But remembering what Zephyr said about wasting time, I take his hand. He smirks, and then he drags me through the mirror. I scream, the cuts inflicted by Allison earlier feeling like my skin is being pulled from my body as we pass through portals of light. When we stop traveling and everything settles, I discover that we're back at Chris's house."You want to know why your self-motivation is important? You're g
Last Updated: 2025-12-09
Chapter: 011: ChrisLaughter resounds in the space, from all the mirrors. Something stabs my right arm, sending pain shooting through the area. "Please," I beg. Again, I'm met with laughter. "I told you," The reflection behind me grips my hair tightly, pulling my head back. "You shouldn't have touched the water."When her grip loosens, I feel my hair out of its bun. Before I can touch it, something drops on my lap. I look down. A bundle of my hair. "I gave you a haircut," the Allison in front of me says. "You needed it."I blindly feel the back of my head, wincing through the pain from lifting my arm. My hair... Half the length is gone. Allison's image in the mirror in front of me fades, leaving behind my broken, bloodied reflection. I look like I've been through hell. I feel like I've been through hell. Her voice sounds from behind me. "You should be grateful. Your hair looked terrible before." She giggles. "I helped you fix it, and you should thank me."I remain quiet, glaring. I hate her,
Last Updated: 2025-12-04
Chapter: 010: The lake of mirrorsInstinctively, I reach out to touch her, but my hand makes contact with the cold glass instead. Her image fades. Her giggles come from somewhere else in the room – probably another mirror – but I don’t bother following it this time. I remember what my spirit guide had said earlier about my feelings, and I quickly wipe my eyes, calling out for him. “Zephyr? Are you here?”“What do you think?” His voice drips with boredom as he appears in the mirror I'm facing. “Where am I?”“The lake of mirrors,” he answers. “A part of the illusion realm. Just like before, you have to confront the important people and events in your life. In this realm, you will fight memories. Not all are real, but they appear real. Your task is to figure out what isn't.”“How do I know the ones that aren’t real?” Expecting the usual, “…Figure it out” answer, I’m surprised when he says, “Your gut. It’s the only thing that you should trust.”“But what if my gut is wrong?”A beat passes in silence. Then, “This is t
Last Updated: 2025-11-15
Chapter: 009: Zephyr "No!" I cry. Yanking my hand from his grip, I try to run back, through the barrier of light. But once again, he stops me. "Why won't you just let me say goodbye?!" He takes his time answering. "I can take you back if you wish," he says evenly. "Then you will remain in a world designed to use your desires to destroy you." I swipe at my eyes angrily. "You're heartless." "Yes. Unlike you souls, I do not have a heart." His tone doesn't waver. "I don't act stupidly based on feelings. I am not naive. I think before I act. I do not let feelings guide decisions that determine fate.” His face stays neutral, but there's something else in his eyes – anger, maybe, or restraint. “Everything I do is planned, structured. That's why I'm superior to you. That's why, when I make a decision that could save your life – even if your feelings get in the way – I do it." I scoff but say nothing. Instead, I sink to the floor – or whatever passes for a floor here – and rest my chin on my knees. The next fe
Last Updated: 2025-11-14
Chapter: 008:I’m sorry Before I can stop myself, I scream. He laughs menacingly, stepping inside. “You want to leave us? After bringing us here?”I take a step back. “You’re not even real,” my voice trembles, my vision blurred with tears.He takes one further. “I’m right here, princess. If I wasn’t, would you be able to feel this-”His fingers lengthen, taking a claw-like shape as he tries to grab me. I move back, frantic, looking for a way of escape. But the walls only seem to be closing in around me. Right when he's about to get to me, the walls close in on us.For a moment, there’s only darkness.The air thickens, and each breath comes harder than the last. I press a hand to my chest, fighting for what little air I can draw in.Then, suddenly, everything snaps back to normal.I gasp, filling my lungs as much as I can. When my breathing steadies, I look around.I’m in the kitchen again. Everything looks the same, yet somehow the place feels different, more… alive.Before I can figure out what’s changed
Last Updated: 2025-11-09
Chapter: 007:You’re not real! 2I drop my fork, gasping. “Are you sure you're–”“I said I’m fine!” I snap. Tears of frustration gather in my eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m just... I’m sorry.”To prove it, I pick the fork back up and force a bite of pancake into my mouth.My senses prick as the food settles in my mouth. It’s bland and dry… crusty, even.I try not to wince as I chew. Apparently, I don’t hide it well enough, as Dad notices. “Don’t you like the food, princess?”I force myself to swallow. It feels like more of a punishment than relief, something grating against the walls of my throat. It burns, as if I've swallowed tiny pieces of glass. This time, I don’t try to hide the wince. “Water,” I rasp, clutching my throat. “I need water.”Instead of getting it for me, Mom places her hand over mine, squeezing tightly. Her head tilts. “What’s wrong, dear? Don’t you like pancakes anymore?”A chill races down my spine.I try to pull away, but her grip tightens.My gaze flickers to my father. He’s looking at me in the s
Last Updated: 2025-11-08
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